LESLIE SACKS

The vision of Leslie J. Sacks, the founder and seed funder of Women’s Voices Now, sparked our first project, Women’s Voices from the Muslim World: A Short-Film Festival. Leslie was a Los Angeles-based art dealer and an active fundraiser and promoter of charitable organizations and causes, in particular, those areas promoting moderate Islam, including the advancement of women’s rights. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Leslie earned degrees in both psychology and computer science from the University of Witwaterstrand, South Africa.

Following an extraordinarily valiant, decade-long battle with cancer, Leslie Sacks died in 2013 at the age of 61. A brilliant orator, a master of words, Leslie will be remembered for his giving nature, his optimism, his sense of humor, his laugh; his strong opinions always with good reasoning, his unwavering devotion to solving the problems of others, his sensitivity and compassion; his resolute moral compass, his courage and conviction to improve, his generosity and kindness, and his untiring quest for justice for all of humanity. Women’s Voices Now is honored to carry on in his stead.